Infant Drinking Device

ABSTRACT

An infant and/or toddler drinking device is provided, which may include a backpack holder configured to fit an infant, a beverage holder to be carried by the backpack holder; a feeding tube coupled at one end to the beverage holder, and a drinking nipple coupled to another end to provide a drinking end to an infant or a toddler wearing the backpack. One example may include a backpack holder adjustable to fit range of sizes of beverage holders.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Application No. 61/643,744,filed on May 7, 2012, which is hereby incorporated herein by referencein its entirety.

BACKGROUND

Many beverage containers are available for toddlers and infants, most ofwhich require a child or caregiver to hold the container, such as babybottles with nipple for infants and Sippy cups for toddlers. It would beuseful, however, if a device could be made to free up the hands oftoddlers and caregivers to provide a safe and effective alternative tobeverage containers that require hand holding. As will be seen, theinvention provides such a device in an elegant manner.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an illustration of one embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the embodiment of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a back view of the embodiment of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an alternative front view of the embodiment of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is an illustration of multiple views of an alternativeembodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The invention is directed to a novel infant drinking device forhands-free feeding of infant and/or toddler children. In one example, aninfant or toddler drinking device includes a backpack holder configuredto fit an infant or toddler, a beverage holder to be carried by thebackpack holder, a feeding tube coupled at one end to the beverageholder, and a drinking nipple coupled to another end to provide adrinking end to an infant or toddler wearing the backpack. Such adevice, when worn by an infant or toddler, allows the child to drink abeverage without the need for the child or other person to hold adrinking bottle or other device in order to feed the child.

In one embodiment, an infant and/or toddler drinking device is provided,including a backpack holder configured to fit an infant, a beverageholder to be carried by the backpack holder;

a feeding tube coupled at one end to the beverage holder, and a drinkingnipple coupled to another end to provide a drinking end to an infant ora toddler wearing the backpack. One example may include a backpackholder adjustable to fit range of sizes of beverage holders.

One example may include a backpack holder insulated to maintain thetemperature of the beverage holder.

One example may include a backpack holder has an integrated beverageholder.

One example may include a feeding tube retractable in the backpackholder.

One example may include a feeding tube retractable in the beverageholder.

One example may include a feeding tube retractable in the beverageholder and wherein there drinking nipple acts as a stop when the feedingtube is retracted, wherein the nipple can be pulled out to extend thefeeding tube to an infant's mouth when in use.

One example may include a wearable infant and/or toddler drinking devicein either a removable pocket, a fixed pocket, or a removable backpackthat includes a beverage holder to be carried on an infant or a toddler,a feeding tube coupled at one end to the beverage holder, and a

drinking nipple coupled to another end to provide a drinking end to aninfant or a toddler wearing the drinking device, and an optionalremovable pocket to hold the container.

One example may include a backpack holder that is adjustable to fitrange of sizes of beverage holders.

One example may include a backpack holder wherein the backpack holder isinsulated to maintain the temperature of the beverage holder.

One example may include a backpack holder wherein the backpack holderhas an integrated beverage holder.

One example may include a backpack holder wherein the feeding tube isretractable in the backpack holder.

One example may include a backpack holder wherein the feeding tube isretractable in the beverage holder.

One example may include a backpack holder with a feeding tube that isretractable in the beverage holder and wherein there drinking nippleacts as a stop when the feeding tube is retracted, wherein the nipplecan be pulled out to extend the feeding tube to an infant's or atoddler's mouth when in use.

In another example, a baby bottle is connected to one end of a drinkingtube having a drinking nipple on the other end for a child to drink.Referring to FIG. 1, a drinking device 100 for a child (which may be atoddler, infant, or most any age child) is shown. The bottle 102 isshown held within a backpack holder 104. The bottle may be articulatedupright with a drinking straw 102(a), so that access to the beverage issecured with the submerged straw into the beverage. In this example, thebottle has a lid 106 that connects the drinking straw 102 a to tube 108at one end. At the other end of the tube 108 is a drinking end assembly110, which may include a housing 112 for connecting the tube 108 and anipple 114 mounted on the housing 110 for attachment or latching by thechild. The backpack 104 may further include straps 116, 118 for mountingon the child's back when wearing the device. Drawstrings 120,121 may beincluded to securely hold the bottle in the backpack to avoid it fallingout. The device 100 may be worn by an infant or toddler, a caregiver,may be hung on furniture such as a feeding chair or crib, or may bemounted in a number of ways.

FIG. 2 shows a front view of the backpack of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 shows a backview of the backpack of FIG. 1, and includes an optional peak window 122that can be used by a parent or caretaker to determine whether a bottleis empty or what quantity level the beverage is.

Alternatively, other mounting devices may allow the device to be worn bya care giver, or mounted near a child, such as a crib, chair, table, orother furniture to allow the child to drink a beverage hands free. Sucha device may include a hook for mounting on a crib, a Velcro strap forwrapping and fastening on a pole or furniture member, or other mountingapparatus that enables mounting near a child.

The backpack holder may be made of cloth, nylon plastic, rigid plastic,and may be transparent, opaque, or other quality. Those skilled in theart will understand that there are a number of different materials,fabrics and products that may be interchanged to produce differentbackpacks, and the invention is not limited to any particular manner orquality of manufacture.

The backpack holder may also have insulation that allows a beverage toremain hot or cold. The insulation may be Styrofoam, padded cotton, orother insulation. FIG. 4 shows an example of a backpack 104 having aninsulating unit 130 in which beverage may be kept hot or cold inside132.

The backpack holder may also include temperature padding such as icepacks, heat packs, or other means for keeping a beverage hot or cold.One optional example is shown in FIG. 3, a heating element 124 having apower source 126 such as batteries for example, and a heating element128, such as a coil and battery or other power source for example. Thoseskilled in the art will understand that different options are availablefor providing temperature modification, including keeping a beverage hotor cold relative to the ambient temperature, and the invention is notlimited to any particular configuration.

The backpack holder may also include pockets or other storage spaces,not shown, to store other foods or beverages, and may be a combinationof hot and cold spaces for storing hot and/or cold food at the sametime.

The nipple may be made of different materials and have different shapesfor use by a child.

FIGS. 5 a-d are illustrations of alternative embodiments 200, where agarment 201,202 is configured to hold a feeding tube 203/nibble assembly204 and a beverage holder or container 205 inside a pocket 206. Thepocket may synch closed, button, or may be zippered (207) closed toallow for the feeding tube to be exposed for use by the user. The pocketmay be snapped on to a garment with snaps 208 or other fasteners such asVelcro™, buttons, hooks, or other means.

One example may include a shoulder strap 210 and a waste strap 212 thatwraps around the abdomen of the body with a secure clip, strap or Velcrostrip to hold the device in place, which may also be a hard plasticmolded or soft or hard material made to shape. It may also include anelastic loop 214 and/or a side zipper or buckle enclosure 216 forholding the device in place for a user, which may be held around theuser's waste.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms withoutdeparting from its spirit or essential characteristics. The describedembodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative,and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicatedby the appended claims, rather than by the foregoing description. Allchanges which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of theclaims are to be embraced within their scope

1. An infant and/or toddler drinking device, comprising: a backpackholder configured to fit an infant; a beverage holder to be carried bythe backpack holder; a feeding tube coupled at one end to the beverageholder; and a drinking nipple coupled to another end to provide adrinking end to an infant or a toddler wearing the backpack.
 2. Aninfant and/or toddler drinking device according to claim 1, wherein thebackpack holder is adjustable to fit range of sizes of beverage holders.3. An infant and/or toddler drinking device according to claim 1,wherein the backpack holder is insulated to maintain the temperature ofthe beverage holder.
 4. An infant and/or toddler drinking deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein the backpack holder has an integratedbeverage holder.
 5. An infant and/or toddler drinking device accordingto claim 1, wherein the feeding tube is retractable in the backpackholder.
 6. An infant and/or toddler drinking device according to claim1, wherein the feeding tube is retractable in the beverage holder.
 7. Aninfant and/or toddler drinking device according to claim 1, wherein thefeeding tube is retractable in the beverage holder and wherein theredrinking nipple acts as a stop when the feeding tube is retracted,wherein the nipple can be pulled out to extend the feeding tube to aninfant's mouth when in use.
 8. A wearable infant and/or toddler drinkingdevice, comprising: a beverage holder to be carried on an infant or atoddler; a feeding tube coupled at one end to the beverage holder; and adrinking nipple coupled to another end to provide a drinking end to aninfant or a toddler wearing the drinking device.
 9. A wearable infant ortoddler drinking device according to claim 1, further comprising abackpack holder that is adjustable to fit range of sizes of beverageholders.
 10. A wearable infant or toddler drinking device according toclaim 1, further comprising a backpack holder wherein the backpackholder is insulated to maintain the temperature of the beverage holder.11. A wearable infant or toddler drinking device according to claim 1,further comprising a backpack holder wherein the backpack holder has anintegrated beverage holder.
 12. A wearable infant or toddler drinkingdevice according to claim 1, further comprising a backpack holderwherein the feeding tube is retractable in the backpack holder.
 13. Awearable infant or toddler drinking device according to claim 1, furthercomprising a backpack holder wherein the feeding tube is retractable inthe beverage holder.
 14. A wearable infant drinking device according toclaim 1, wherein the feeding tube is retractable in the beverage holderand wherein there drinking nipple acts as a stop when the feeding tubeis retracted, wherein the nipple can be pulled out to extend the feedingtube to an infant's or a toddler's mouth when in use.